2021 Hyundai i20 N Line review, test drive

Beneath the N umbrella Hyundai has complete-blown N cars, which have more substantial powertrains, fully redone suspension units and other race enhancements for just about each spot like the steering, gearbox, brakes and differential. The N Line – which is what we have – are styles that mainly come fitted with sporty styling enhancements, together with some light-weight general performance upgrades to parts like the brakes and suspension.   

The i20 N Line has a markup of Rs 50,000-one,00,000 around comparable variants of the i20 and shares the regular cars 120hp, one.-litre turbo-petrol engine, as nicely as the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and the 6-speed intelligent guide transmission (iMT). It is priced between Rs 9.84-eleven.seventy five lakh (ex-showroom).

What is the i20 N Line like to drive?

Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter. In addition to the obvious go speedier styling bits, the i20 N Line options three critical mechanical upgrades around the regular i20, and the good information is that these do enrich its sportiness. The initial between these upgrades are its dampers, which are thirty percent stiffer than the regular car’s and allow the N Line to tackle corners in a flatter, extra athletic method and lessen entire body roll. What is good is that the stiffness does not consider out a lot from the comfort and the experience does not truly feel overtly rigid though dealing with lousy roads and potholes. The car’s highway manners are significantly nicer as well, and it feels even extra absolutely sure-footed at significant speeds.

The next modify is its steering truly feel, which is a lot heavier than the regular auto. The on-centre truly feel is nicer and the vagueness from the i20’s steering has been eliminated. The additional bodyweight undoubtedly ups its engagement levels by creating it a lot sharper to position, as a result infusing a better degree of driver self-assurance.

The third spot of improvement is the addition of rear disc brakes. Not that the regular version’s brakes ended up lacking, but having discs at all 4 corners feels extra reassuring. On the complete, all these enhancements made to the previously capable chassis of the regular i20, have improved its driving dynamics creating the i20 N Line a real driver’s delight and one particular of the nicest driving hatchbacks all over.

So good is the N Line’s driving prowess, that it eggs you to drive more challenging and try out to extract extra from the motor. The turbo-petrol engine is carried around from the regular auto, unchanged, and though in regular guise it does the occupation fairly nicely, in the N Line, it feels like it could have some extra electricity, because of to the capable N Line chassis. And where this motor lets you down is in its delayed electricity shipping below two,000rpm, which can get bothersome at lower speeds, main to sluggish off-the-line responses.

The relaxation even so is wonderful as the engine retains its wholesome mid-assortment general performance and is rev-content. So it will very easily spin past six,000rpm. And when you drive with a large foot, the new twin-tipped muffler emits a raspy be aware, specially on the outdoors.

Paired to this motor is the similar 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and 6-speed iMT (semi-automated guide transmission) from the regular auto and we actually truly feel Hyundai missed the possibility to present a proper guide.

The DCT is easy in its operation, and will come across as a nicely-sorted gearbox in most situations. Straight-line general performance is solid and Hyundai promises a -100kph time of 9.ninety seconds, equivalent to the regular edition, as the N Line’s 10kg bodyweight achieve around the regular auto is negligible.

If you have skilled the erstwhile Volkswagen Polo GT’s dual-clutch automatic transmission, you would truly feel that the Hyundai’s feels slower in comparison, primarily though using guide control by means of paddleshifters. There is a Sport method that retains gears a little bit extended than ‘D’, but on a winding uphill climb, you can get caught between its short next and tall third equipment ratio. Since of its greatly-spaced (lower) equipment ratios, it generally loses steam and breaks momentum and in this kind of situations its weak off-raise general performance is even more amplified.

Shifting focus to the iMT, this 6-speeder will get a proper guide shifter minus a clutch pedal. This easy-slotting transmission is a hassle-free compromise for all those in search of independence from a clutch pedal in crawling visitors, though however seeking to row via gears manually. What is good is that the engine feels extra responsive with the iMT and because of the better-spaced equipment ratios and the reality that you can hold on to gears, it is a lot extra pleasing on winding hilly roads. For all its merits, even so, the iMT is not a transmission that’ll enable rapid shifts, and because it lacks a clutch, it does not enable for exhilarating off-the-line launches. But between the two, this is definitely a better alternative. Count on -100kph dash periods in the region of eleven seconds for both equally, DCT and iMT, comparable to what we attained in our assessments with the regular auto.

What are the other N Line precise improvements?

As for the exterior, the i20 N Line will get ample enhancements. The front bumper will get minor tweaks which look a little bit extra aggressive and its chin, finished in crimson, appears distinctive, as does the refined crimson strip on the sideskirts. On the auto with the Fiery Purple paint shade, silver highlights exchange the crimson cure. Other improvements consist of a new all-black front grille which sports an exciting chequered flag-encouraged structure. Spicing up its aspect profile are black mirror housings, new diamond-reduce 16-inch alloys and crimson front brake calipers. The rear will get a new bumper, twin muffler suggestions, as nicely as a roof spoiler with aspect wings finished in black. And just to make certain you don’t slip-up it for the regular i20, Hyundai has slapped ‘N Line’ badges on the front grille, aspect fenders and tailgate.

On the within there are a handful of lower-rent plastics but the N Line tweaks do uplift the cabin. It options splashes of crimson, irrespective of the entire body shade. The seats aspect a really sporty crimson piping and the ‘N Line’ branding, as does the new steering which feels wonderful to grip. Then there are some crimson highlights on the air vents, doorway handles and equipment lever. Talking of which, the iMT’s shift lever is so good, it will very easily move muster in a significantly extra costly sportscar. Continuing the crimson theme on the within are new crimson ambient lights as well. On the complete, the seats are snug and house, storage and practicality are aplenty,

Is the N Line better geared up than the regular i20?

What actually grabs headlines is the foundation N6 iMT variant which is really nicely geared up and priced competitively at 9.84 lakh ex-showroom. This variant very easily justifies the Rs one lakh top quality around the Sportz variant i20 turbo iMT. The N6 will get you a lot like the entire body package, diamond-reduce alloys, front and rear disc brakes, ESP and a sunroof. Curiously, even while this variant will get a smaller sized 8-inch touchscreen (in contrast to the ten-inch device in the top-spec N8 variant), this new-era device will get wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay though the top-spec will get a wired connectivity.

The top-spec N8 variant is loaded to the gills with six airbags, Bose audio process, LED headlamps and a lot extra. It also will get new connectivity options by means of the Bluelink smartphone application using the count to 58. Amongst other features, it options voice command to run the sunroof and driver’s aspect window, as nicely as around-the-air map updates (16 updates in 8 yrs). The N8 variant priced at Rs 50,000 extra for the DCT and Rs ninety five,000 for the iMT than the Asta O variant of the regular auto, is not as good value as the N6 variant in terms of options, because of to much less additions around comparable i20 variants.

Should you acquire one particular?

Whilst the i20 is costly to start out with, the good information is that the action-up for the N Line is only marginal and is an trustworthy attempt to change a regular hatchback, into an exciting sporty proposition. Certain, a three-pedal guide gearbox set up would have additional a better degree of driver engagement, and the engine’s general performance really should have been improved to match its dynamic capability, which is one particular of the best all over. But the modest beauty and mechanical tweaks have upped this hatchback’s desirability and sportiness numerous notches. And with a racy persona complementing the i20’s strengths like a spacious inside and class-main options, what you get is a really desirable package deal. One that can fulfill both equally driving fanatics and relatives hatchback shoppers alike.